Compare towns
Casco vs Mapleton vs Penobscot vs Otisfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Casco has the most people working from home (26.6%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Otisfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Casco | Mapleton | Penobscot | Otisfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,696Highest |
1,884 |
1,154Lowest |
1,951 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52±3.3 16% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
56.8±4.8Highest 27% above ME |
| Otisfield and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.3%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±7.8 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.7%±1.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
31%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,313±$19k 7% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$84,271±$15k 13% above ME |
| Mapleton and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$58kHighest 20% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
$317,200±$35k 7% above ME |
| Casco and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$184Highest 22% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
$1,300±$872 14% above ME |
| Casco and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,085Highest about the ME average |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
$2,652 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±35.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
77.3%±92.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Otisfield and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
92.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.6%±10Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Casco and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.